J-Rod Blasts Two More

by whopperman on Jun 3, 2007 10:10 PM EDT

John Rodriguez has four homers in his last three games, all of the 400-plus variety. He hit a 423-footer today that landed in the picnic pavilion area in right field in Memphis, then his next time up, he hit one out to left-center that hit a light at the back of the bullpen.

In other Memphis-related news, interesting to see the Brian Esposito Era end so quickly...he didn't even have to get an out to get sent back.

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With Eck Healthy...

i'd like to see one of the Ryan's (Brendan or Ludwick) sent back down to Memphis and JRod brought up. I think TLR hates JRod though.

Miller sucks.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Jun 3, 2007 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Echo

Yeah, with Eck being healthy I can't see the need for 4 middle infielders.

JROD should have been here from day one.

There's always next year :(

by bobbyballgame1 on Jun 3, 2007 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't see the need

For 4 middle infielders either, but nor can I see the need for 3 catchers with Bennett, Stinnett, and Esposito. I'll assume if any one is to be called up, Esposito gets the send down first. Tony likes to platoon middle infielders so I think he likes all his options.

However, I think we're more likely to see Ankiel get the call rather than Jrod at this point.

RIP: Jack Buck, DK57 & JH32

by gibbons on Jun 4, 2007 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Why Ankiel and not Jrod...

Ankiel has no options left, and probably could use the regular playing time at Memphis much more so than Jrod...remember Ankiel's only been an OFer for a few years.

I am not sure if Jrod is out of options, but I think that Ankiel is more a part of the long-term outlook than Jrod is.

by cardzfanbub on Jun 4, 2007 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

While I see where you're coming from

I just think Tony "likes" Ankiel a little more.

I''m a Jenius!

by gibbons on Jun 4, 2007 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

JRod

is on optional assignment as he's on the 40-man but not the 25-man roster. The team can send a player up and down as many times as they like in the three option years.

by plh903 on Jun 4, 2007 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn't Espisito...

being removed to make room for Stinnett or did I misunderstand? If not, you are right...that makes zero sense.

There's always next year :(

by bobbyballgame1 on Jun 4, 2007 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Esposito will return to AAA

Since it looks like Eck isn't hurt badly enough to miss much, Brendan Ryan will likely be sent down for a seventh relief pitcher (unless we sign Troy Percival).

I'm pretty sure that Troy Cate needs to stay down for ten days before he can be recalled. They might wait until he can come back, since neither of our lefties are doing a stellar job of getting left-handed batters out. Randy Keisler is getting his ass handed to him right now by an all-righty lineup and his split vs. left-handed batters is the best in Memphis. There aren't any good left-handed options aside from Cate, even in AA.

Hugo Castellanos, long time minor league journeyman, has been pitching nicely down there. They've been using him for multiple innings at a time, probably trying to get him as much exposure as possible. He's put up good numbers for a middle reliever, getting lots of ground balls and walking few batters. He's a submariner pitcher, a delivery that I've always enjoyed watching. I'd be pretty happy to see him up as the seventh man in the bullpen.

by liam on Jun 4, 2007 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Brian Esposito

Thanks for the info on JRod. How can they keep this guy off the ML roster? As to Brian Espo, the club make a huge blunder not putting Eli Marrero on the roster down in Memphis. It sounds like Tony cut Eli out of spite because he didn't come off the DL to fill a roster spot that opened when Ryan Christianson suffered a hand injury at Memphis. Elis says in the article he needed another two days to get ready but Don Tony LaRussa Soprano put the hit on Eli after catching one game off the DL in Memphis.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/4AB9F5F56BE39FA4862572EE000EADC9 ?OpenDocument

This sort of petty garbage is one of the main reasons I'll never be a TLR fan despite 2006. He would look good in a pinstripes IMHO.

by jjray on Jun 3, 2007 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

i wasa huge ELI fan

thought he should have left spring training with the team, but Mr Strauss conveniently omits the fact that when he came back off the DL he gave up 5 stolen bases against him. He's not an MLB caliber catcher and wasn't going to solve our problem.

Don't Panic!!!

by SleepyCA on Jun 3, 2007 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Eli

>>he gave up 5 stolen bases against him.<<

Thanks for the info but it doesn't change my opinion in the least. The guy was on the DL for what, a month? Hadn't caught much the last few years. He should have been given time to work his way back into form, not cut after one game. It was a silly move. Eli had a gun for an arm. You can't tell where his skills were at as a catcher after one game back still shaking off the rust.

by jjray on Jun 3, 2007 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he's similar to Spezio

His career had it's ups and downs and coming to STL, I think he could've thrived as a "super-sub". Unfortunately, we have a Spezio and Yadi. (Eli said, atleast at first, he wanted to be a catcher)

RIP: Jack Buck, DK57 & JH32

by gibbons on Jun 4, 2007 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Coincidence?

Noticed Bernie's Sunday column made reference to the concept of "Don Tony." Is this a common nickname, or does Bernie really count on VEB for column ideas?

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/F404CF91F0322FA1862572EF0 0121168?OpenDocument

by baw on Jun 4, 2007 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

he is too uptight for NYC

by nybirdfan on Jun 3, 2007 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

he is too uptight for NYC

>>he is too uptight for NYC<<

True, but it would be great theater. If TLR gets PO'ed at the Post Dispatch, he ain't seen nothing. Tony would pop a gasket harking back to the days of Billy Martin. I'd love to watch it.

by jjray on Jun 3, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

he has a problem with the post

Not living in St louis I am not sure how many daily papers there are. In the NYC area there most be twenty that cover the Yanks. From Jersy to Conn. If he can not handle what one paper says about the Cubbies image what would happen in NYC!

My guess is TL has no interest in going into that fire storm.

by nybirdfan on Jun 4, 2007 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Tony's head would

explode in NYC. Free Anthony Reyes

by jillsinmo on Jun 4, 2007 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

j rod sucks

that should send him out . j rod sucks. who cares if the guy hits homeruns in aaa he still sucks. they need to trade him to tampa bay so he can play on a team that sucks

HURRY BACK CARP AND MULDER

by LaRussa4President on Jun 3, 2007 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

this is the most ridiculous comment I've read

in quite some time. you offer no reason why JRod may not be a good player. You just stop by to rag on him.

Please don't bother posting crap like this anymore. It's a waste of your time and it merely makes you look foolish. Not to mention it pisses off regular posters who want to read more than just drivel from a 10 year old.

by azruavatar on Jun 4, 2007 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

i second that

bring some intelligent conversation to the board, that was an absurd remark to say the least

Future Redbirds

by erik on Jun 4, 2007 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

He is a troll...

who has yet to make an intelligent post anywhere on this blog.

Miller sucks.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Jun 4, 2007 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

that's BRINGBACKWILSON

under a different guise. same level of intelligence, though . . . . .

by lboros on Jun 4, 2007 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Does anyone think he may be joking?

His comments and screen names are quite preposterous . . .

So says, The Dude

by Titus Pullo on Jun 4, 2007 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

it's an attention mechanism

probably wasn't hugged enough as a child or something

by azruavatar on Jun 4, 2007 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

don't get me wrong

i am not BRINGBACKWILSON or larussa4president but that's kind of mean, i only say this because i've gotten the same treatment when i was JEdmonds15

If there's a baseball heaven, Albert Pujols is God.

by kyle man on Jun 4, 2007 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, we're a bunch of meanies

but there wasn't anything mean about the original comment ---- ie, "j-rod sucks, even if he hits homers he sucks, trade him to a team that sucks." that was a real bright remark, which we should all treat with respect . . . .

stupid comments draw mean responses. i'm good with that.

by lboros on Jun 4, 2007 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I mean it s

mean to talk about BRINGBACKWILSON if we're not sure its him but yeah i agree about the comment made on laruss 4 president

If there's a baseball heaven, Albert Pujols is God.

by kyle man on Jun 4, 2007 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

on top of that

he's ripping on Tampa Bay's outfield. They've got one of the best young outfields in the league.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Jun 4, 2007 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

LaRussa4President is BRINGBACKWILSON

same guy

by lboros on Jun 4, 2007 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I think lboros, the owner of this blog, would be able to tell when one person uses two names.

"Tyler's gonna bust a nut on some babies tonight!" - Tyler Johnson (as told by Alex Fritz)

by Mr Redbird on Jun 4, 2007 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah i relized that right before i read what you

said just a few posts ago, He capitalized the HURRY BACK CARP AND MULDER thats how i caught on

If there's a baseball heaven, Albert Pujols is God.

by kyle man on Jun 4, 2007 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

J-Rod v R-Ankiel

One is .278/ .400/ .522
The other is .273/ .307/ .558

Who do you think is more likely to hit ML pitching?

by Zubin on Jun 3, 2007 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

just watched the milb game

Well, the first couple of innings, and it's the first time I've actually seen j-rod play this year.

The dude is HUGE; I didn't recognize him running out to left field. His biceps are bulging now and it looks like he has hector luna's glut syndrome. If he wasn't roiding over the winter I want to see what he was doing for an exercise program. He's also changed his stance completely; looks like a totally different man at the plate, which might account for some of his lost contact ability/increased power. I wanted to see him with the big league club earlier, obviously, but even more so now.

The questions are: who would he replace, and can he stay healthy? Obviously there's room for him if Dunc is on the DL, but once he comes back we'll have one too many LH outfielders...

Don't Panic!!!

by SleepyCA on Jun 4, 2007 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd love to see some photos

of the stance and the new poundage as well.

Interested in pre-1990 Cardinals games on tape

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 4, 2007 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

He worked with NFL Trainers this offseason...

He basically did all the physical training that an NFL Cornerback would do. May explain how he bulked up quite a bit, as football players are generally bigger than baseball players.

Miller sucks.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Jun 4, 2007 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

J-Rod

I'll preface this with the fact that I can't wait to see Ankiel put on a Cardinals uniform again. I can see him being a valuable, at least off the bench for a few years. Like the D, like the pop.

J-Rod doesn't have the holes in his swing.
He's got the plate discipline and even his power is coming along.
He also carries an over .800 ML OPS.

It's pretty much a no-brainer, unless Edmonds goes down.

by plh903 on Jun 4, 2007 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully both

There's always next year :(

by bobbyballgame1 on Jun 4, 2007 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

after last night's game:

j-rod
season .298/.414/.596 (1.014 OPS)
last 10 days: .519/.629/1.296 (1.926 OPS!!!)

ankiel
season .266/.308/.544 (.852 OPS)
last 10 days: .256/.333/.538 (.871 OPS)

Since j-rod missed so much time, he's still in the small sample sizes (<100 AB's) but considering he started out hitting ~.200 before his DL trip, he's done a heck of a job bringing his season #'s back up...

Don't Panic!!!

by SleepyCA on Jun 4, 2007 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

So

What if J-Rod gets called up and proceeds to hit .200 with few XBH's and BB's and tons of K's? Will all the J-Rod love go away?

I'm not for or against J-Rod. I'd like to see the kid have a shot. I'm just not ready to crown him for mashing AAA pitching; and I really don't think he would sustain success in the majors, just based on past performance and gut feeling. If he comes up and does great, then awesome, we have a new RF, I eat crow. If not, I'd hate to see all of you calling for us to DFA him or something.

"Tyler's gonna bust a nut on some babies tonight!" - Tyler Johnson (as told by Alex Fritz)

by Mr Redbird on Jun 4, 2007 12:58 AM EDT reply actions

It's not like...

...he hasn't hit MLB pitching when given the chance.

I'd take 298/378/434 against MLB pitching, and I don't know very many people who wouldn't. He's not a bad fielder either. It took a while for his power to come around when they messed with his stance last year, but he still had an 800 OPS.

We're not talking about somebody who's never hit big-league pitching.

by whopperman on Jun 4, 2007 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions

can you please explain your sig?

i'm dying with curiosity

by stltrav09 on Jun 4, 2007 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Best Joke of 2006

Follow me to see.

by liam on Jun 4, 2007 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

That's hilarious

I'd die laughing if Taguchi actually said that to anyone.

Hancock :(

RIP: Jack Buck, DK57 & JH32

by gibbons on Jun 4, 2007 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

That picture of TJ is priceless, too

"Tyler's gonna bust a nut on some babies tonight!" - Tyler Johnson (as told by Alex Fritz)

by Mr Redbird on Jun 4, 2007 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

None of them are exactly

"Photogenic", take Jorge Sosa for example...

I''m a Jenius!

by gibbons on Jun 4, 2007 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I still read that from time to time

Tyler Johnson's the best part, but I really enjoy Rolen and Mulder playing the straight men to the rest of the team.

The Falcoholic
The SBNation's Atlanta Falcons Blog

by Dave Choate on Jun 4, 2007 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

J-Rod

as much as I want him on the team, cause he's a better hitter then So or Lud, the problem is he's left handed!!!

for a team that can't hit lefties, why do we want to overload the outfield with lefties.

Jimmy
Duc
JRod
Slick Rick

which leave the only R-OF is Juan!! Sure Speizio can play OF (not very well). Look JRod had a shot to make the team out of camp and Skip out hit him, out fielded him, out played him.

Until we can solve the problem of soft-throwing southpaws JRod might as well start looking for a house in Tenn.

by Stan and Slaughter on Jun 4, 2007 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

The team

is near last in the league in OPS. That has a lot to do with all the replacement level AB we're getting. I'm more concerned with getting some decent hitters some AB and less with handedness at the moment.

by plh903 on Jun 4, 2007 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

JRod vs. LHP

His numbers against LHP are really pretty decent. Combining 2005-6, he hit .300 with a .901 OPS. That's with a very small sample size (40 AB's), but I think it indicates the possibility he would fare reasonably well.

Particularly when it comes to facing starting pitchers, I think the fixation with handedness is overrated. Late in the game, when teams can throw specialists at you, it's more important. But against a typical LH starter, I think the guy would probably be OK.

by chris13 on Jun 5, 2007 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

5th outfielder

is what we're talking about here. I don't think there's any doubt that Jimmy, Dunc, Enc, and So are staying up, if healthy, and I agree that they should. That's 2 RHs and 2 LHs. What we're really talking about is whether the 5th OF/PH is going to be Ryan Ludwick or John Rodriguez. Ludwick so far in part-time has put up an OPS line under 600, which is simply unacceptable. Maybe it's because of playing time, I don't know, but if he's not going to succeed in part-time duty, they need to send him out. JRod has put up OPS of 800 in part-time duty for 2 years. So, it doesn't seem to be a close call, especially if JRod's on one of his hot streaks. I think that, at this point, J-Rod is the best option for the 5th OF/PH role.

Also, I don't think that long-term the answer is to exchange Brendan Ryan for JRod. That would leave the team with only 11 pitchers. Short-term, that may be the move to make, but it would be followed shortly with a swap of a hitter (probably Ludwick) for a pitcher.

by CardFaninVA on Jun 5, 2007 1:01 AM EDT reply actions